Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 PC is a 3D arena fighting game from CyberConnect2 and BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment. Steam still lists the base game under this exact name; it has not been rebranded. The main expanded storefront option is NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 Road to Boruto, a separate bundle or edition that combines the base game, Season Pass content, and the Road to Boruto expansion.

The game adapts the closing portion of the Naruto Shippuden storyline into cinematic battles, exploration segments, and competitive modes. It is aimed at players who want anime spectacle, a large character roster, simple shared controls, and team-based arena combat rather than a traditional tournament fighter built around strict 2D spacing.

How the 3D arena combat works

Storm 4 uses a third-person 3D arena perspective where fighters move freely around compact battlefields. Basic attacks, jumps, chakra charging, shuriken, guard, substitution, support calls, and character-specific jutsu all share an accessible control structure.

The defining change is the Change Leader System. A team contains three fighters, and the active character can be switched during battle while the other two remain available as support. This lets players rotate injured characters, extend pressure, change matchup tools, or bring in a teammate whose jutsu better fits the situation.

Movement is more than visual flair. Dashes, jumps, chakra movement, guarding, and evasive substitutions determine whether a player can close distance or escape a damaging combo. The official feature set also includes wall-running, allowing combatants to carry battles onto arena surfaces in selected situations.

Storm 4 is easy to start but rewards attention to resource timing. Chakra supports special techniques, the Storm Gauge powers stronger options, and substitution charges must be managed instead of spent automatically. The result is a fast rhythm of approach, pressure, escape, support calls, and high-impact counterattacks.

Signature systems and cinematic finishers

Every fighter has a distinct moveset, support profile, awakening option, and ultimate technique. The roster includes multiple versions and transformations from across the Naruto and Naruto Shippuden cast, so character familiarity matters as much as learning the shared controls.

Ultimate Jutsu attacks provide the game's biggest visual payoff, while team composition determines which support and combination options are available. Some teams can trigger a Linked Secret Technique, combining the active fighter and supports into a larger cinematic attack when the required conditions are met.

Awakening changes the way selected characters fight after their power threshold is reached. It can improve pressure or alter available attacks, but using it at the wrong moment may leave a player vulnerable. This gives the otherwise approachable combat system a layer of decision-making beyond simply repeating the strongest move.

The game is not designed around the precision and matchup laboratory of a highly technical 2D fighter. Its appeal comes from controlling recognizable anime characters in open arenas, reacting to movement, and creating dramatic exchanges with substitutions, support ninjutsu, and ultimate techniques.

Story, Adventure, and replay structure

Story Mode follows the late Naruto Shippuden narrative through a sequence of battles, cutscenes, and cinematic encounters. It focuses on the final stages of Naruto Uzumaki's conflict with Sasuke Uchiha and the wider Fourth Shinobi World War storyline.

Story battles can include normal arena fights, boss encounters, special event conditions, and moments that switch between different characters. Players looking for a straight chronological introduction should know that Storm 4 concentrates on the later part of the saga rather than retelling the entire Naruto story from the beginning.

Adventure Mode expands the single-player experience beyond the main campaign with free movement, missions, conversations, and battles connected to the Naruto world. Rewards can be used for collectible and cosmetic purposes, giving completion-focused players reasons to revisit optional content.

After the narrative content, the main mastery loop comes from replaying battles, improving grades, testing different teams, unlocking or collecting items, and learning how roster variations interact. There is no need to force a traditional campaign-length promise onto the game; its long-term value comes from matchup practice, completion, and versus play.

Modes, multiplayer, and local play

Free Battle is the central offline replay mode. It supports standard matches along with formats such as Tournament, League, Survival, and Practice. These options make the game useful both as a casual anime fighter and as a place to test teams before entering online battles.

PC players can use shared or split-screen PvP for local matches. Steam also lists Remote Play Together, which allows supported local multiplayer sessions to be shared remotely through Steam's platform features.

Online play adds matchmaking, ranked competition, player battles, leaderboards, and event-style activities. The online component is best understood as an extension of the arena-fighting loop, not as a cooperative campaign. Story and Adventure are primarily single-player experiences.

Players who want a broader anime fighting catalog can compare Storm 4's team-based arena design with anime arena fighters like Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, although Xenoverse 2 places more emphasis on avatar progression, quests, and role-playing systems.

Base game, DLC, and Road to Boruto

The standard PC release is a paid base game with its own Story, Adventure, Free Battle, Practice, and online features. The base version does not automatically include every later content pack.

Separate add-ons include the Season Pass content, the Shikamaru's Tale and Gaara's Tale extra scenarios, and the Sound Four Characters Pack. These packs expand the playable roster or add side-story material rather than replacing the main campaign.

Road to Boruto is the important expanded edition for buyers who want the fullest Storm 4 package. It includes the base game, the Season Pass content, and a Boruto-focused adventure based around the next generation of characters. The expansion also adds playable fighters and additional movesets, including adult versions of Naruto and Sasuke.

Steam also presents a larger Naruto Storm Legacy bundle containing several games from the series. That collection is not a renamed version of the standalone Storm 4 product. For a Storm 4 purchase, the practical choice is between the base game and the Road to Boruto package, depending on whether the extra campaign and add-on content are wanted.

PC features, controls, and localization

The PC version is distributed through Steam and requires agreement to a third-party game EULA. Steam features include achievements, cloud support, leaderboards, Family Sharing, and Remote Play functionality.

Full controller support is the natural way to play because the combat system is designed around simultaneous movement, camera control, guard, support, chakra, and substitution inputs. The official PC manual also documents keyboard control and customizable controls, as well as support for Xbox controllers and Steam Controller input.

Steam lists 13 supported languages across interface, subtitles, and audio categories. English includes full audio, while Japanese is available as audio and other languages primarily provide interface or subtitle localization. The exact combination differs by language, so players should check the storefront language table before purchase.

The game includes no verified Steam Workshop or official mod-support feature in its listed PC feature set. Players should therefore treat it as a self-contained Steam fighter with controller support, local PvP, online play, cloud saves, achievements, and Remote Play rather than as a mod-driven platform.

Who should play Storm 4?

Storm 4 is a strong fit for Naruto fans who want to recreate major anime confrontations, experiment with a large roster, and move between story scenes and versus battles. It also suits groups that prefer accessible local multiplayer over complex command lists.

It is less suitable for players seeking a strict competitive fighter with highly granular frame data, traditional 2D footsies, or a campaign covering every Naruto arc from the beginning. The cinematic presentation and broad roster are central to the experience, while mechanical balance takes a secondary role.

Players interested in crossover anime combat can also look at crossover arena fighters such as Jump Force. That comparison is useful for understanding Storm 4's emphasis on recognizable teams, large arenas, and dramatic special attacks, although Storm 4 is more focused on one universe and its own story continuity.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 FAQ

Is Storm 4 still called Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 on PC?

Yes. Steam and the official publisher page continue to use NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 for the base game. Road to Boruto is an expanded edition or bundle, not a complete rebrand of the original product.

What does Road to Boruto include?

Road to Boruto includes the full Storm 4 base game, the three Season Pass content packs, and the Road to Boruto expansion. It adds a separate next-generation adventure, additional playable characters, and new fighting styles for selected characters.

Does Storm 4 support local multiplayer on PC?

Yes. The PC version supports shared or split-screen player-versus-player matches, and Steam lists Remote Play Together. Local multiplayer is separate from the single-player Story and Adventure modes.

Is Storm 4 a cooperative game?

Its main campaigns are not built as cooperative story experiences. The team system means one player controls an active fighter and two supports, while multiplayer focuses on versus battles rather than campaign co-op.

Can Storm 4 be played with a keyboard?

Yes. The PC manual documents keyboard input and customizable controls, although a gamepad is generally better suited to the game's movement, support, guard, chakra, and substitution layout.